Your Heart: The Worst Foods and Drinks to Avoid
- Posted on: Feb 14 2019
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When it comes to your heart, you’re probably sick of analyzing everything going into your body. But, trust us, it gets easier with time. And changing your eating habits may be hard at first, but finding the right foods that taste good will definitely help. And, once you start to feel better, you may become addicted to a healthier lifestyle! So, while food and drink may not be all you need to maintain a healthy heart, it definitely helps to consider what you’re putting in your body.
Food and drink provide our body with the building blocks for healthy cells, but the wrong food and drinks can just cause more trouble. Keep reading for some of the top foods and drinks to avoid, when it comes to your heart.
Processed meat
Processed meats (think hot dogs, bacon, sausage, and deli meats) have added preservatives to increase shelf-life. These processed meats are worst for the heart, because they are salty and other added nitrates. If you must, limit your indulgences as much as possible.
Refined carbohydrates
When whole grains are processed, the healthy dietary fiber and minerals are destroyed or removed. Heavy processing destroys the food’s natural structure, which then produces much higher spikes in blood sugar. Processed foods also typically include added ingredients like trans fats, sugar, and sodium.
Soft drinks
A 12-oz can of soda contains at least ten teaspoons of sugar. Sodas and even fruit juices are high in sugar and empty calories. They up your chances of gaining weight. Ditch them.
If you’re not super excited about changes to your diet, we understand. But, is your health really worth one hot dog? Of course not, and it’s not that simple. But, what you can do is make better changes at least some of the time. Consider trying Meatless Mondays, which is a popular way of cutting out meat, but only for one day a week. Once you get used to places and foods that don’t have meat, it’s easier to increase the rates of eating meatless. If you’re ready for big changes, consider trying a vegan diet for a while. Cutting out meat and other animal products may be the thing to help you feel even healthier.
If you want to learn more about keeping your heart healthy, we can help. Call us today at (407) 767-8554 to schedule a consultation with one of our physicians.
Posted in: Heart Health
